Thank you Roseanna for taking up the challenge, and being part of our party!

Roseanna White: How did you get the idea for Love in Three-Quarter
Time?

Dina Sleiman: Well, my agent had basically given me two choices. 1)
Write a contemporary romantic suspense. 2) Write a historical romance. I took a
class on romantic suspense at ACFW in 2011, and decided forget that option.
Totally wasn’t me. So I started really praying about an idea for a historical
romance. What I felt God gave me was the title, Love in Three-Quarter Time. Then I was like, “Okay, and…?” I felt
like His answer was that I know how to write now, and the title should be
enough to get me started. Ha ha! He was right. Before long my brain went to
work and a storyline started to unfold. Six weeks later the first draft was
written.

RW: I remember when you came up with the idea, and it struck
me then as a definite God-thing. Even more so now! So while we’re talking
inspiration and writing, what was the most fun bit of history you discovered
while researching for the book?

DS: Hmm…I learned so much fun and interesting stuff about
Jefferson and Monticello, but I wasn’t able to use most of it in this book.
Much of what I learned would actually be considered controversial in
conservative Christian circles. Someday I’d love to write about a fictional plantation
similar to Monticello. But I did set a few scenes at Monticello. I especially
loved the cool little garden pavilion where a pivotal encounter takes place
between hero and heroine. I was also fascinated by the history of the “Black
Indians.” These were runaway slaves who integrated into Native American
culture. And of course, the dance history and the fact that the waltz was
considered a “scandalous” dance during its day was tons of fun.

RW: That would be a fun story! I love that lesser-known side
of history. And while it’s a shame you couldn’t use much in here, at least you
got to integrate a hint. Now—who’s your favorite character in LiTQT and
why?

DS: Oh, I think that would have to be Lorimer. Lorimer is an
enigmatic circuit preacher. Earthy yet mystical. He’s given his life to serve
the “least of these” and dedicates himself to ministering to slaves and
Indians, as well as secretly working with the abolitionist cause. In addition
to being the spiritual mentor in the book, he’s also part of my love triangle :) He’s known for his buckskin attire, his
reddish gold hair, his muscular physique, and his boyish grin. A number of my
readers so far have mentioned that he’s their favorite character.

RW: He’s definitely a good one! The hunky moral center—*blissful
sigh* ;- ) I happen to know from reading this that the waltz, when it first
arrived in America, was a bit different from the waltz we know. Can you explain
it to us?

DS: Yes, it looked more like the cotillion of that day. Lots
of pas de bourrées and
spins. It was closer to the Viennese waltz than the American waltz. The most
interesting part, though, was that it included a variety of close holds,
several with hands linked overhead, that seemed quite scandalous at the time.
I’ve written an entire article on the subject, which will appear on Colonial
Quills this Thursday, and CJ will be talking more about it here tomorrow.

RW: When you first describe it in the book, I was pretty
surprised by those overhead holds! Not what I thought I knew about the dance,
LOL. Okay, time to shift gears. =) You’re being kidnapped, but your kidnappers,
wanting to keep you quiet, let you bring your Bible and one other book with
you. Which one would you grab?

DS: Ugh! Just one. Maybe Sailing
Between the Stars by Steven James. That’s the first book that comes to
mind. It’s not a novel, but it’s a book I can read again and again and learn
something different each time. Plus, it includes poetry, which always brightens
my day.

RW: From all I’ve heard (mostly from you, LOL) that’s a
great choice. Now, the really important question: are you going to be arriving
at the next writers conference wearing a Regency gown befitting Gingersnap? ;-)

DS: I’ve thought about it. Don’t tempt me.

RW: Oh, come on! I’ll wear my big hat again . . . ;-) Okay,
next question. If you had to pick one historical era to live in, when would it
be and why?

DS: Oh my. Truthfully, living in any historical era seems
pretty rough, unless you’re part of the teeny, tiny upper class. Even then you
have wars, diseases, oppression of women, and dangerous fashions. I will say,
part of my reason for choosing 1817 for this novel is that the fashions were
much more natural and free flowing. I hate uncomfortable clothes, and they seem
to be the bane of the upper class throughout most of history. But if I choose a
time in history based on what was going on in the world, I would probably
choose the late 1800s to early 1900s because it would be so fascinating to see
the world changing with new technologies every few years, and the changing role
of women as well. So if you combine that with my fashion issues, I guess early
1900s would be the best time for me.

RW: As they moved into the Edwardian era, the clothing did
get much more natural again, so I could definitely see you in that. And I’ve
thought all the technological and mechanical and social advances would make
that a fun era to witness!

Thanks so much for chatting with us, Dina! Love in
Three-Quarter Time is a wonderful book, and I’m so excited that Zondervan
loved it so much they’re launching this new line with it. Readers, be sure to
check it out on Amazon LOVE IN THREE QUARTER TIMEand Inkies, thanks so much for inviting me to be your guest-correspondent on
this interview! =)

Thank you Roseanna and Dina!I hope our guests realize that if they turn around, they'll see we have a great buffet of 18th century foods (and some of our contemporary favorites as well). Mingling today will be Dina's characters, as she cast them in her novel, as well as a regular or two from our wait staff!

Dina's heroine Constance has her hands full with this love triangle! Robert or Lorimer?

Comments

I am ready to pass by the coffee this morning for some of that hot cocoa and definitely won't be passing by the biscuits.

Congratulations, Dina! I think Love in Three Quarter Time is going to be a great success for you and Zondervan!

Let us know where else you'll be today, so readers can learn more. I have already read your thoughts on the romance novel genre over at the Writer's Alley todayhttp://thewritersalleys.blogspot.com/2012/10/to-romance-or-not-to-romance-with-dina.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheWritersAlley+%28The+Writer%27s+Alley%29#.UIUkwEL3DY0

Thanks, Deb. There's also an review of my novel today at http://colonialquills.blogspot.com/

Starting off slow with some coffee, but I plan to dig into more of those goodies as the day goes on. Glad our colonial chefs could be with us, and glad you thought of that silly picture of Gina and I at Williamsburg. LOL.

Yes, you hit a great period which I suppose I should properly call Federalist! We'll dress in the Regency era and eat what our Colonial chefs create. Makes me wonder what new food was the trend on 1817 tables...

Yes, I believe it's actually late Federalist. I do know that canning started not too long before my book was set. Maybe early federalist. I had to look it up because I wanted an apple pie in the spring. I also know that French cuisine was big at Monticello. Jefferson had some of his slaves trained in Paris. He was very progressive for his time, and many of his slaves were relatives of his wife, so they were trusted members of the family, literally.

Deb, I love the Sally Hemmings story too. One of my future goals is to set a series in a fictional plantation similar to Monticello.

Thinking of French food makes me think of my favorite. Pain au chocalat. Do you think Matthew would be a dear and run out and get us some? Since he can't tell me no and all. If he catches a direct flight both ways, he could make it back in time for dinner probably.

Gina, I actually found it easier and much more efficient to just keep writing while I was in the flow. It kept everything really tight and all the pieces fell into place well. I told the family to pretend I was gone last year during November.

Two other things I wanted to add to the conversation. 1) Love in Three-Quarter Time is only $3.99!!! 2) If you haven't checked out Roseanna's writing yet, you need to. She's on my short list of favorite authors.

Well, I think our local high end grocery store sells these in their store in the rich section of Rochester.

Last year I wrote 70k in a month. Okay, so now I'm burning calories whipping each chapter into place but it was so much easier to be in the character's heads to that extent. Going to try for the same thing in November!

I love this book, love the cover, love the models for the characters, love that Matthew guy, and love this interview. There's a lot of love going around! Thank you for visiting, Roseanna. Congratulations, Dina.

Anita, anytime you can make it to Williamburg I'd be more than happy to meet you there and drink hot chocolate with you with silly looks on our faces. LOL. I think we could rope CJ and Carrie Pagels into meeting us pretty much anytime too.

You know, CJ, I might have to content myself with a nice hat. I looked at Regency gowns last night and there's no way I'm spending that much. Even an ugly day dress was over $100. More like $300 for something that was actually nice. I guess I could make a project of it with my Mom and sew one. The patterns were much prettier than the pre-sewn versions. I'm not a very good seamstress, but I can cut and pin a pattern.

i love the book cover. the waltz is one of my favorite dances to dance -unfortunately dear hubby doesn't like to dance - too shy, i think.

i'm impressed with the quick production of the book. i guess that's what happens when one is God inspired, eh?

and Anita, if you do travel towards Williamsburg, be sure to let me know. you can always come stay with me in Virginia Beach. or at the very least, i can get to Williamsburg to meet up with you and the other ladies.

Congrats Dina! the book sounds wonderful! i don't think i could ever write an historical romance but i do so love reading them.

LOL DebH, I knew you'd commented because I rec'd the email, but kept looking on the wrong post wondering why your comment didn't show up. Finally clicked on the link in the email and found it here. Duh.

Yes, I'd stay at your place too if I ever had a chance to visit the area. Wouldn't miss it after all our virtual travels. :D

And yes, I do think you could write a historical if you wanted to. After everything you've accomplished, the only thing stopping you would be your own lack of interest.